Green Cleaning Products: Effective & Eco-Friendly or Deceiving & Waste of Time?
It was a long week at work, juggling the kids’ schedules, and trying to keep up with commitments. You would just like to relax this weekend, but as you come in the door on Friday evening, you’re greeted with a dirty house that was neglected throughout the week.
You decide it’s time to hire someone to clean your home so you can capitalize on quality family time and forget about cleaning on the weekends.
In regards to cleaning, you’ve heard a lot about green products and the importance of being kind to the environment and the safety of the products for your family and pets. But are the green products truly green and effective for cleaning, or is it just a myth?
You don’t want a company that is going to spray chemicals throughout your home just so it smells better — a clean and sanitized home is your goal.
Can both concerns be achieved?
Read further to review how green products for your home can be truly effective and not just a waste of time, along with how Tidy Up Portland! can help you!
Table of Contents
What Are Green Cleaning Products?
Green cleaning products are those that should not contain hazardous chemicals and are likely to pose fewer health risks to people who come in contact with the product.
They are typically much safer and suitable for use around your family and pets, especially ones that may have weakened immune systems or other health conditions.
Green products are less impactful and hazardous to the environment, too. They are usually packaged in recycled or recyclable packaging, and they do not cause water or air pollution during the production or use of the product.
According to Clean Water Action, the following aspects are in place for true green cleaning products:
Free of dyes, chlorine, or hypochlorite
Phosphate-free
Natural fragrances
Package with recycled products
Recyclable packaging
Bulk packaging
Non-toxic
Biodegradable
Label with full disclosure of all active and inactive ingredients
Green Cleaning Products vs. Green Cleaning
Green cleaning are products free of volatile organic compounds and semivolatile organic compounds (VOCs and SVOCs, respectively), which are known to be linked to carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
The term “green cleaning” refers to utilizing products and cleaning methods that keep people, pets, and the home environment healthy along with reducing landfill waste and minimizing the carbon footprint from humans.
Do Green Cleaning Products Work?
Yes.
Green cleaning products and practices work as well as chemical cleaners.
Green cleaning products are safer for the environment and your health. These products are made from natural products which are often plant-based. They avoid harsh chemicals that are potentially dangerous to your family and pets.
The myth that plant-based products are just a diluted version of chemical products is false. In fact, plant-based products are just as effective, or even better, at breaking down grime, dirt, and stains commonly found in many areas of the home.
In addition to not only being effective for your everyday cleaning tasks, green products are less harsh on your possessions. By not using harsh chemicals, items such as your furniture, clothing, and dishware may last longer without the abuse from chemical exposure.
How Do Green Cleaning Products Work?
Green cleaning products work by using naturally derived ingredients like plant-based compounds, essential oils, and minerals to clean and sanitize surfaces.
Green products aim to minimize harmful chemicals that can be detrimental to human health and the environment, and Tidy Up Portland! is committed to keeping your home environment safe by utilizing only green cleaning products.
Natural products such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice have their own cleansing properties. Harsh synthetic chemicals found in traditional cleaning products are not truly necessary to remove dirt, grime, and germs.
Are “Green Cleaning Products” Really All That Green?
“Green cleaning products” continue to grow in popularity, but it is important to do your research on the product, as not all products that are labeled “green” truly fit the bill.
Currently, there are no regulations on product labels using the terms “green”, or “eco-friendly”. Manufacturers can loosely utilize these terms on labels whether or not they’re completely factual or not.
Due to the lack of labeling regulations, products labeled as green may be more of a marketing ploy rather than a true approach to product safety and environmental sustainability. It can sometimes be difficult to know what exactly is in products labeled that way without transparency into ingredients and formulas.
Thankfully, environmental groups exist such as the Environmental Working Group, a comprehensive team of epidemiologists, toxicologists, and chemists who analyze consumer products for green standards and safety.
Do Green Cleaning Products Contain Chemicals?
Unfortunately, some cleaning products that are labeled as green may still contain chemicals. It is important to research your product in question for a complete listing of active and inactive ingredients.
However, according to studies in a controlled laboratory environment, some of the green products tested still emitted VOCs, although lower in concentration than those of chemical composition.
What Are the Best Chemical-Free, Green Cleaning Agents?
Many of the best, green, chemical-free cleaning products are not the commercially-produced solutions, but everyday products you already have in your home!
This concept is important to TidyUp Portland!, a green cleaning boutique that avoids traditional market cleaners.
The staff consistently utilizes green products to clean your home — safely sanitizing your home.
Review a list of green products below that you not only commonly find in your home, but the products you can trust to be chemical-free and green, along with suggested uses.
Vinegar
Vinegar’s acidic composition breaks down odor-producing molecules. Your grandmother and her mother likely relied on vinegar as a natural staple for cleaning.
Vinegar is widely versatile for cleaning your home — consider the following uses:
Excellent window cleaner
General surface sanitizer
Floor cleaner for no-wax floors
Copper, brass, and pewter cleaner
Remove bathtub film
Clean shower doors
Remove lime and hard water from clogged shower heads
Combat pet odor or urine in carpets
Erase wine stains
Remove deodorant and antiperspirant stains on laundry items
Vinegar can be harsh on surfaces that are sensitive to acidic cleaning solutions. Use with caution or dilute it well if cleaning:
Grout sealant
Wood
Certain grades of stainless steel
Other similar surfaces
Acidic cleaners, like vinegar, can gradually erode these surfaces over time.
Vinegar should not be used to clean cement as it can have a bleaching effect, and it can also cause a cloudy appearance on stone with repeated use.
Baking Soda
Baking soda's naturally abrasive texture and chemical properties make it ideal for household cleaning like scrubbing and scouring dirt, deodorizing bad smells, and lifting stubborn stains.
Household uses for baking soda include:
Deodorizer for refrigerator
Dissolving grease and grime on dishes and pans
Removing stains from plastic products
Cleansing kitchen countertop, stainless steel, microwave, and stovetop
Deodorizing musty upholstered furniture
Cleaning toys
Destroying mildew in bathrooms
Unclogging drains
Deodorizing trash containers
Castile Soap
The soap molecules found in Castile soap have one end that bonds to water and one that repels it.
When combined with water, the result is that one end of the molecule attaches to dirt, grime, and grease and removes it from surfaces.
Suggested uses for Castile soap include:
Using as a multipurpose surface cleaner
Creating low-cost laundry and dish soap
Using on pets such as a dog shampoo
Cleaning floors
Cleaning cosmetic brushes and personal items
Using as shaving cream
Lemon
The citric acid in lemons is antibacterial and antiseptic, which means that lemons can kill bacteria, remove mold and mildew, and even rust.
The oils in the peel or rinds of the lemon can cut through grease and stains, leaving household items sparkling.
You can use lemon to:
Sanitize
Create a refreshing aroma
Deodorize a refrigerator
Freshen wooden cutting boards
Remove stains and grease from pots and pans
Eliminate garbage disposal odor
TidyUp Portland! Only Uses Green Cleaning Practices To Make Homes Sparkle
Cleaning has never been this streamlined. Kick up your feet, relax, and choose the service that brings balance into your home.
You can rely on our services for house cleaning in Portland to be not only helpful for the busy, hard-working family, but our green practices are guaranteed to be safe for your family, pets, and health.
Tidy Up Portland! is committed to exceeding our clients' expectations by:
Having a user-friendly booking system
Offering transparent and flexible pricing
Offering consistent high-quality cleaning services
Deploying trustworthy and dependable cleaners
Offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee for Flat-Rate services
Contact us today to schedule your green-cleaning services to free your time from cleaning and make your home sparkle!
